Three-wire mercury-meter.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. IiANIHIER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SANGAMOELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THREE-WIRE MERCURY-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1911.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT C. LANP'IUER,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the countyof Sangamon, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Three-IV ire h'lercury-M cters, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention rclatesto mercury meters adapted for use in connectionwith a threewire system, and it has "for its object to provide a new andimproved construction and arrangement of parts by which the armaturespindles may be connected directly to each other without the use ofgearing so that one recording mechanism shall indicate the full currentpassing. The means by which I have accomplished this object areillustrated in the drawing and hereinafter spe-.

citically described.

That which I believe to in the claims.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through 11ly\ improved. meter,some of the parts being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail, partially in section, showing tlie means for connecting the twospindles. ig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a cross section taken on line 1-Ct of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, .10 indicates a casing, provided with a mercury chamber1]. closed at the bottom by a plate 12.

13 indicates an electro-m=umet the poles of which are held in anyappropriate manner in contact with the bottom-plate 1.2, the

be new is set forth coil of which magnet is connected across thethree-wire circuit 14-15---16 parallel to both loads. It will beunderstood, however, that the coil of this magnet might equally well beconnected across from either of the lines 14r-16 to neutral line 15 inparallel with only one of the loads.

17 indicates contacts of the ordinary typo embedded i n the casing 10,with their inner ends immersed in the mercury in the chamber 11 in closeproximity to the armature 18 mounted on the spindle 19 the lower end ofwhich rotates in aguide 20 carried by the plate 12, the upper end beingjournaled in -a bearing 21 mounted in the lower end of a sleeve 22depending from the cover plate 23. .The contacts 17 are connected inseries inthe line 16.

24-25 indicate pole pieces suitably mounted in the casing 10, preferablylaminated soft-iron polepieces, the lower ends of which are directlyopposite the upper ends of the poles of the magnet 13; 26 indicates aplate mounted on the upper ends of the pole-pieces 24-25, serving as thebottom plate for the mercury chamber 27 formed in the casing 28. 29indicates a plate in the term of a ring suitably mounted in the casing28 above the ends of the pole-pieces 24.-2:), preferably beingin theform of a laminated soft-iron ring. By this construction, thepole-pieces 2-125 and the plate 29 constitute the return path for themagnetic lines of force emanating from the magnet :13, the magneticfield in the mercury chamber 27 being practically of the same strengthas thatin the mercury chamber 11 immediately adjacent to the magnet.

30 indicates contacts of the ordinary type embedded in the casing 28with their inner ends immersed in the mercury in the chamber- 27 inclose proximity to the armature 31 which is mounted on the spindle 32.The contacts 30 are connected in series in the line 14.

33 indicates a coupling of any approved type adapted to cause thespindles 1!) and 32 to rotate together, at the same time permitting themto swing very slightly relative to each other, the spindles 19 and beinginsulated from each other electrically in any suitable manner. Thecoupling between the spindles 19 and 32 is preferably constructed in themannershown in Fig. 2. Referring to that figure, the upper end ofspindle 19 and the lower end of spindle 32 are cut,

away on each side so as to form two flat surl'accs upon each sidel -16indicates a shell preferably of metal or other suitable material.

17 indicates an end cap of metal or other suitable material providedwith a substantially-oblong opening -l-8 within which the flattcncd endof the spindle 32 loosely rests. The end of the spindle is preferablypointed and rests within a suitable depression 49 in a plate 50 fixed inthe interior of the shell 46.

51 indicates a cap which is fixed in the lower end of the shell 16 andis provided with a subslantially-oblong opening 52 within which theflattened end of the spin (lie 19 loosely rests. The end oi the spindle19 is pointed, and the point rests within the plates 50 and 54 so as toinsulate them from one another.

56 indicates a ring of hard rubber or other suitable insulatingmaterial, whose upper end bears upon the lower surface of the insulatingplate 55 and which surrounds the bearing plate 54 between its peripheryand the interior periphery of the shell 46.

57 indicates a ring of mica or other suitable insulating material, whichis located below the cap 51 and below the lower end of the insulatingring 56. By this construction, the spindles are given a suitable play soas to allow them to swing slightly relative to each other and thespindles are at the same time thoroughly insulated from'one another.This is the form which I prefer to use, but any other method ofinsulating the spindles from one another may be used, as the same doesnot form any part of my present invention. The upper end of the spindle32 is journaled in a bearing 3% carried by the lower end of the sleeve35 'dependi-f from the cover-plate 36.

The above-described coupling between the spindles '19 and 32electrically insulating one from the other forms no part of my presentinvention but is the type of coupling being used in the commercialembodiment of my improved meter. v

v 37 indicates a coupling of any approved type joining the upper end ofthe spindle 32 to a spindle 38 so that they shall rotate together butthat one may swing very slightly relative to the other.

39 indicates a damping disk mounted on the spindle 38, rotating betweenthe poles of permanent magnets 40 suitably held in position therefor. 41indicates a worm cut in the spindle 38 adapted to drive a suitablygeared recording train not shown. The upper end of the spindle 38 isadapted to be journaled in any suit able bearing not shown.

42indicates a float of wood or other suitable material mounted on thespindle 19 of such a size as to buoy upward the three shafts or spindlesl93238 and their connected parts, as is well-known in two-Wire mercurymeters.

In order to produce a mercury meter on a commercially successful basisit is important that the amount of mercury nee cssary for proper workingshall be limited.

\Vith this end in View, that portion of the mercury chamber in which thearmature rotates is made very shallow, on account of. which it isnecessary to provide a considerable head of mercury to insure itscompletely filling the space about the armature and forcing out all theair. meter herein described it is of course necessary to have one of thearmature spindles pierce the bottomplate of its mercury chamber. Withthe spindle piercing the bottom plate as such plates are ordinarilyconstructed, and with the required head of mercury above the bearing inthe bottom plate, the mercury would slowly w'orkdts way between thebearing jewel and the spindle, very soon rendering the meter deficientand possibly inoperative. I have found, however, that I can actuallypierce the bottom plate with a spindle having a working fittherein'without permitting the escape of any mercury whatever if thehead of mercury above the bearing be sufficiently reduced. I havetherefore raised the bearing 43 relative to the bottom-plate 26 by meansof a sleeve 44: swaged upward therefrom, rising to a point atwhich thehead of mercury above the bearing shall be less than the minimum head atwhich the mercury will work its way throughjhe bearing. To

In the type of accommodate this change in the bottom above thebearing43, but below the surface of the mercury in order to keep the surfacefriction to a minimum. Suitable attachment is made in theconstruction-shown by means of a sleeve 45 swaged upward from thearmature disk. Openings 46 are provided in the upper end of this sleeve15 to permit the mercury to run downward between the sleeves 4.4 and 45to properly surround the armature.

While I prefer the construction shown employing but a singleelectro-magnet which I do not limit myself to that construction exceptas hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters. Patentis,-

1. In a meter, the combination of an armature, an electro-magnet withits poles in close proximity to said armature, pole pieces extendingclose to said armature opposite said magnet poles, a second armaturemounted close to the other ends of said pole pieces and adapted torotate in unison with said first armature, and a return plate in closeproximity to the ends of said pole pieces on the opposite side of saidsecond armature.

2. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chambertherein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, abearing mounted in said bottom 110 furnishes a field for both parts ofthe meter, a

plate, a spindle extending through said bearing, and an armature mountedon said spindle above said bearing, said bearing being raised above theplane of the bottom plate proper.

3. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chambertherein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, abearing mounted in said bottom plate, a spindle extending through saidbearing, and an armature mounted on said spindle above said bearing butbelow the surface of the mercury, the armature proper being below thebearing, said bearing being raised above the plane of the bottom plateproper.

4. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chambertherein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a sleeveextending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upperend of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, and anarmature mounted on said spindle above said bearing, the armature properbeing below the bearin 5. In a mercury meter, the combination 0 acasing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower sideof said chamber, a bearing mounted in said bottom plate, a spindleextending through said hearing, an armature, and a sleeve extendingupward from said armature and mounted on said spindle above saidbearing, the armature proper being below said bearing.

(5. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chambertherein, a bottom late closing the lower side of said chamber,a sleeveextending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upperend of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, anarmature, and a sleeve extending upward from said armature and mountedon said spindle above said bearing, the armature proper being below saidbearing. Y

7. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chambertherein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a sleeveextending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upperend of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, anarmature, and a sleeve extending upwardfrom said armature and mounted onsaid spindle above said hearing but below the surface of the mercury,the sleeve mounted on said armature having holes through its upper endfor the passage of the mercury, the armature proper being below saidbearing.

8. In a three-wire mercury meter, the combination of two mercurychambers one above the other, a raised bearing in the bottom of saidupper chamber, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armaturemounted thereon, a spindle extending through said raised bearing. andconnected with said lower spindle to rotate therewith, an armaturemounted on said upper spindle and means for producing a magnetic fieldupon each armature.

9. In a three-wire mercury meter, the combination with two mercurychambers one above the other, a raised bearing in the bottom of saidupper chamber, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armaturemounted thereon, a spindle extendin through said raised bearing andconnecte with said lower spindle to rotate therewith, and an armaturemounted on said up er spindle, of

a-magnet with its poles, in c ose roximity to the armature in the lowercham er, polepieccs extending substantially from one armature totheother, and a return plate in close proximity to the ends of said polepieces on the opposite side of said upper armature.

10. In a three-wire direct-current meter, the-combination of two mercurychambers one above the other, a raise bearingin the bottom of said upperchani er, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armature mountedthereon, a spindle extendi through said raised bearing and connect withsaid lower spindle to rotate therewith but insulated therefrom, anarmature mounted on said upper spindle, means for producing a magneticfield upon each armature, one of said armatures being in series with oneload circuit and the other of said armatures being in series with theother load circuit.

ROBERT C. LANPHIER. Witnesses Jacon BUNN, GEORGE A. BATES.

